BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Deschutes County jury took less than a day Monday to find a Bend man guilty of manslaughter \u2013 but not murder\u00a0\u2013 in the\u00a0August 2023 fatal shooting of Redmond resident Taylor Wyss on the sidewalk outside a downtown Bend bar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The week-long trial of Caleb Joseph\u00a0Cegers, now 22,\u00a0wrapped up\u00a0several days earlier than\u00a0scheduled,\u00a0and the 12-member jury began its deliberations Wednesday morning\u00a0and reached\u00a0a\u00a0verdict that was announced in the late afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0jury\u2019s\u00a0verdict was handed to Circuit Judge Beth Bagley, who\u00a0read it aloud, saying\u00a0they\u00a0found\u00a0Cegers\u00a0not guilty\u00a0of\u00a0second-degree\u00a0murder, but guilty of the \u201clesser included charge\u201d of first-degree manslaughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In Oregon, second-degree murder alleges\u00a0someone committed\u00a0an intentional, though not premeditated killing.\u00a0First-degree manslaughter is\u00a0a killing\u00a0seen as\u00a0reckless behavior, with \u201cextreme indifference to life,\u201d or a killing committed in the heat\u00a0of passion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second-degree murder conviction carries a life prison sentence, with a 25-year minimum, under Oregon\u2019s Measure 11.\u00a0First-degree murder is a Class A felony, also\u00a0a\u00a0Measure 11\u00a0crime, with a\u00a0potential\u00a0sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The jury also found\u00a0Cegers\u00a0guilty of a Class A felony charge of first-degree assault and two Class C felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sentencing date was not set during the 10-minute\u00a0verdict hearing,\u00a0pending further discussion between the judge and attorneys.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In opening statements<\/a> a week ago, prosecutors said Cegers and his girlfriend were drunk and causing trouble in the bar, and Wyss was trying to be a “good Samaritan.” Defense lawyers argued Cegers acted in self-defense after being assaulted and chased down the sidewalk by several men.<\/p>\n Before the verdict was read, Bagley advised those in the courtroom to show \u201cno outward reaction to the verdict\u201d or face\u00a0possible removal. Afterward, before dismissing jurors, she thanked them for their\u00a0work.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI know this was a big ask,\u201d she said, but \u201cincredibly important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Cegers\u2019 defense attorneys\u00a0had\u00a0filed an objection\u00a0Monday\u00a0to part of the jury instructions\u00a0that stated: \u201cThe defendant is not justified in using physical force on another person if he provoked the use of unlawful physical force by that other person with the intent to cause physical injury or death to another person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile (that) is a correct statement of the\u00a0law,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0not supported\u00a0by any evidence in the record,\u201d\u00a0they\u00a0wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n In order to\u00a0give that jury instruction,\u00a0they\u00a0argued, \u201cthe evidence must show that the defendant wanted a confrontation so they could assault the victim under guise of self-defense.\u201d\u00a0And he\u00a0claimed\u00a0\u201cthere\u00a0is\u00a0no evidence\u00a0in the record that Mr.\u00a0Cegers\u00a0said or did anything to elicit a physical response from Mr. Wyss.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n RELATED STORIES:<\/p>\n Amid manhunt for ‘armed, dangerous’ suspect in downtown Bend fatal shooting, victim’s grieving sister shares details<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0August 10, 2023<\/p>\n